By Chima Chukwunyere
in the book, Lincoln On Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times, the author, Donald T. Philips, made a fundamental observation: “When Abraham Lincoln took office in 1861, he had a clear idea of the kind of army and commander that he needed. Someone who could build, organize and train an army and then formulate and implement a military strategy to invade the South… He needed someone that craved responsibilities, a risk taker and above all, someone that made things happen.”
Lincoln strategically engaged and fired several Generals until he got General Ulysses S. Grant. Grant was the most unlikely person to become commanding officer because he was not liked and the complaints against him were numerous. They wanted Lincoln to dismiss Grant. But Lincoln loved the man’s aggressiveness and the fact that he was able to deliver. He was quoted as saying, “I can’t spare this man, he fights.” President Muhammadu Buhari may not be talking of the Nigerian Army now. But he certainly has to be concerned about the Nigerian Police, especially who he will appoint to replace Solomon Arase, when he retires soon.
Lincoln was well ceased with the problems of the army. Not only were they few, they were also poorly trained, ill equipped and under a tired general with anachronistic theories and strategies of warfare.
The Nigerian media has been rife recently about who will be the next Inspector General of Police. There are also feelers that retired and active politicians, including an ex-president, governors and ministers in Buhari’s cabinet have been brandishing names to Mr. President. All these elements want an Inspector General of Police they could call their own while they sit back and act the hand of Esau behind the voice of Jacob. A school of thought has also postulated that the next IGP should be someone that has enough years to serve to cover the next period of election in 2019. Others have suggested that all the Deputy Inspector-Generals and Assistant Inspector-Generals should be retired with Arase and the next IGP appointed from the array of Commissioners of Police. Those who hold this position probably have an axe to grind with one DIG or AIG and want their removal to look natural because of anticipated public outcry.
The appointment of an IGP should be seen as a sacred duty to the nation. It must be above political, religious or ethnic considerations or personal patronage. One single wrong appointment can demoralize the entire police force. Conversely, there is an appointment that will buoy up the spirits of the officers and men, put them on their toes and working.
In the immediate past few appointments of IGPs, we saw the regime of Hafiz Ringim characterized by uncertainty, the bombing of the Police Force headquarters and UN building, something that should be considered a sacrilege. And then there was the troubling issue of high profile crimes across the country. But Hafiz did his best and was relieved of his duties when his best were no longer considered good enough. Then came M.D. Abubakar, who brought much panache and visibility to the police. He proved his mettle as an operational man, warmed himself into the heart of Nigerians and retired gracefully in due season.
Suleiman Abba who replaced M.D Abubakar was an analytical and calm, administrative genius. He stretched out his hands to the community in a way that had never been seen in the police, he believed in citizens’ rights and was not known to be corrupt. But his tenure was short-lived. According to some stakeholders, he allowed himself to be caught up on the wrong side of the macabre dance of post-2015 elections – a web in which a thoroughbred professional cop should have deftly avoided.
Solomon Arase, the current IGP is an exponent of intelligence-led policing. We have seen in his words and actions that he craves a proactive image. But he has to reconcile his intelligence-led policing style with the current upsurge of violent crimes in the country. There is no pretense about this: Nigeria is sick, security-wise. If you consider that economically, we are not well off, it is a double tragedy. This in itself will continue to brew and precipitate more security challenges.
This is our scorecard today: Boko-Haram, having linkages with Al Qaeda and ISIS; Niger Delta militants; Niger Delta Avengers; Fulani herdsmen; cattle rustlers; land rustlers; Ombatse cult group in Nassarawa State; cult killings in Rivers State; Kidnappers in the South-East and across the country; agitations by Indigenous People of Biafra and MASSOB; armed robbery; enforced disappearances, across the country, etc.
The Nigeria police today is akin to the army of the days of Abraham Lincoln. It is ill-equipped, ill-motivated, ill-remunerated, with low public rating and mostly enmeshed in corrupt practices. We have fine officers in the police who could combine the attributes of MD Abubakar, Suleiman Abba and Solomon Arase, in addition to being their own man, to get the work done if the President cares to ignore the Babel of voices that come from self-seeking individuals. The President must know the man he wants based on the situation on ground so that the police must not miss it this time, the way the Nigeria Customs missed it some years ago.
In the case of the Customs, the Federal Government needed a man to reposition it. Everybody said only one Mr. Okereke could do it. But Alas, Okereke had been untimely retired.
Okereke was about the most disciplined officer that the Nigeria Customs had produced. His fame went beyond his stations and postings. Many officers worked their transfer out of Tincan and no one bribed his way to be posted there. He arrested many officers for wrong documentations and clearing. He once seized the contraband belonging to Gen. Oladipo Diya’s relation, the No. 2 Citizen. When Diya intervened, Okereke said the same hand and signature that declared those goods contraband cannot do otherwise.
The CG later ordered for the goods to be sent to Abuja where they were auctioned to the owner. Okereke instantly transferred an officer who gave him N50,000 gratification for being sent to a good posting while he detained another officer who suggested that financial contributions should be made for him to bury the oldest man in his family since his posting was dry. The officer remained in detention until after the burial.
It came to a point his colleagues ganged up against him and Okereke was untimely retired. By the time the Federal Government looked for him, he was no longer in service.
•Chukwunyere is the chairman of PCRC, Imo State